Wet Paint! Orris Falls (plus NHAA Gallery this month!)

It’s spring again! At least it is in my mind it is. I’m seeing at least 2 feet of snow out the window this morning as I write this. When you work in a medium that takes 2 months to cure I’ve found it’s sometimes best to look forward to the next season. I’ll be at Hampton Falls early May for the Mothers Day Weekend Art Festival. I’m not the best salesperson but I’d wager there’s more interest in vibrant green spring scenes over winter imagery. Forgive me if I shift gears a little early.

Orris Falls is a small conservation area in South Berwick. White pines, vernal pools, rolling hills and a bubbling creek are its most memorable scenes. In early spring the evergreens the crocus and the frog pools are the first signs of life reawakening after the winter slumber.

I was hoping to capture some of that spring re-awakening in this large 40Wx30H visual. The warm sun reaching through the dead trees creating a stained-glass look above and a dynamic cascade of light and shadows into the grove below.

This piece is a 2 inch deep canvas with magenta/orange/viridian green underpainting. The edges are unpainted but I’m considering a violet edge and natural wood frame in a few months once it cures up.

In other news - I’ll have 2 paintings on display in downtown Portsmouth at the NHAA gallery this month: York Woods #4 and Summer’s End 2025. These are donated as a fundraiser for the organization. It’s an auction with 100% of the profits towards keeping the organization running. Come by and say hello if you’re in downtown for the Friday night reception. I’ll be in around 6-ish.